Let your VaJayJay Shine, Kansas City! Our Favorite Products to Help

#1 Find Community

When faced with the many, many (did I say many?) questions of pelvic pain, it helps to know that you’re not alone. Finding a community of individuals who are also dealing with the same struggles that you are can greatly help reduce one of the contributors to pelvic pain/dysfunction; anxiety. Check out these groups to get started:

Happy Pelvis

Mom Support Groups: Baby Center and KC Metro Moms

Pelvic Pain Support Network

Endometriosis Groups

IC Network

Red Hot Mamas (Menopause Support Group)

Cancer Support Group: Gilda’s Club Kansas City

#2 Shop Wisely

DO NOT, I repeat, do not buy a product without first doing some research. Not every product on the internet will work to cure pelvic pain. Luckily, we’ve done some research for you, and compiled a list of our favorite products.

Products

Spanx: firm compression to abdomen, perineum and thighs. We like that it improves circulation, lymphatic flow and lifts and supports.

Squeem Binder: …firm compression, post-partum belly binder.

Desitin/ Witch Hazel Wipes/ A&D: …improvement in fissures and hemorrhoids

Pelvic Floor Relaxation CD for Pelvic Pain: …30 minutes of guided pelvic floor muscle and whole body relaxation with breathing exercises, in two versions for men, and women.

Stop, Breathe and Think App: 10 different 5 minute meditations to stop what you are doing and focus on breathing for a few moments a day.

Wondergel Cushion: …provides extreme comfort and support while eliminating pressure hot spots.

Pelvic Therapy Hot/Cold Pad:… targets the abdomen, hips, pubic bone, pelvic floor/crotch, tail bone and lower back simultaneously with natural hot/cold therapy.

Healthy Hoo Hoo…Eco friendly, and free of harsh chemicals feminine cleansing products

Organic Cotton Pads

Here are a few options:

Natra Care

Organyc

Sckoon Cup

Diva Cup (not cotton but good product)

Prelief: …for bladder relief with acidic foods and beverages

Lubricants: organic, free of dyes, and sans chemicals. Here are a few options:

Coconut Oil: LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this and 99/100 of my female patients swear by it. Also use it as lotion to your female area. Make sure it is 100% coconut oil. It is a multi-use oil…cook with it, use it for wrinkles, lotion, body scrubs, and lubrication. J Let it melt in the middle of your hand and put it to good use! (*IMPORTANT NOTE: Coconut oil breaks down condoms)

Sinclair Institute Organic Personal Lubricant

Slippery Stuff Personal Lubricant

Honest Company Organic Nipple Balm…Helps relieve irritation & helps heal sensitive, sore or chapped nursing nipples.

GoCommandos:…all cotton patches stick securely in your pants and jeans, eliminating conventional underwear. Now worn by many women suffering from pelvic pain, vulvar and bladder conditions, and claiming their extreme soothing comfort.

#3: Explore all Treatment Options

We know that tackling your pelvic health can be a bit overwhelming, and you may not know where to start. In conjunction with physical therapy, many of our patients have found these treatments to be very effective in eliminating stress, reducing pain and improving their overall quality of life.

Acupuncture

Below are our Acupuncturist recommendations for the Kansas City area.

Jenn Funk: (816) 745-1810

Stephanie Mall: Infertility Acupuncture

Mary Zhang: Herbal Acupuncturist

Massage/Pilates

To promote a healthy balance of exercising, and not exacerbating patient’s symptoms, our therapists will often enlist the help of massage therapists, yoga, and Pilates instructors.

We recommend the following practitioners in the Kansas City area

Lee Anne Jester, Pilates instructor at Lee Anne Pilates, LLC (Lee Anne gives amazing individual feedback on how you are moving and what you need to be using)

Molly Root, Massage Therapist at Sage Center for Yoga and Healing Arts

Alex Jackson: Holistic Health Practitioner

Cathy Trenton: Massage Therapist (816) 694-4666

Pelvic Pain Physicians/ Sex Therapists/ Psychologists

At Foundational Concepts, we get it. Pelvic floor dysfunctions can destroy an individual’s relationships, as well as their mental, and emotional health. It is essential to overcome these types of obstacles. Check out our provider/ therapist recommendations below for the Kansas City area.

Center for Pelvic Pain and Sexual Health : All of the practitioners at this site ar–e AMAZING!!

Erin N. Donnelly, Psy.D.,M.Ed.: Clinical Psychology Fellow, Sexuality Educator & Therapist

Rhonda Johnson, PhD: Clinical Psychologist, Sexuality Educator & Therapist

Turner Professional Group: Relationship therapy

Hopefully, the above list will help encourage you to improve your pelvic health. Let us know if you have any other great products or resources you use!

–Amanda Fisher, DPT

This blog is here for your help. It is the opinion of a Licensed Physical Therapist. If you experience the symptoms addressed you should seek the help of a medical professional who can diagnose and develop a treatment plan that is individualized for you. If you enjoyed this blog, check out our website at foundationalconcepts.net for more blog entries and to learn more about our specialty PT practice, Foundational Concepts. Follow us on Twitter @SarahpelvicPT or @Jenn_pelvic_PT or @AmandaFisherPT and like us on Facebook/Foundational Concepts for updates.

One of the questions I’m asked most often at Foundational Concepts is: “Do you have any recommendations on what I can do to get better?” The short answer to this is no. Tackling your pelvic health usually requires a multidisciplinary approach that is individualized to each patient. However, there are some fabulous general resources and treatment options that can get you started on the path to a healthier you. So I’ve decided to share some of our favorite pelvic health resources and products with you.

(A little disclaimer: Foundational Concepts is not affiliated with any of the following providers, resources, or products. We just like them!!)